Howard County, Nebraska Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Howard County is located in Nebraska with a total population of 6,492. It is the 45th most populous county out of 93 in Nebraska. The county encompasses 1 Census-designated place.

Age Demographics

The median age in Howard County is 42.3 years. This is 14% higher than the state median of 37.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Howard County is $74,508. This is about average than the state median of $74,985. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 5% lower. The poverty rate stands at 5.4%. This is 47% lower than the state poverty rate of 10.3%. The unemployment rate is 3.4%. This is 14% higher than the state rate of 3.0%. The median home value is $205,200. Housing costs are 8% lower than the state median of $223,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.8x, Howard County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 74.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 11% higher than the state average of 66.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

Howard County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 91.8% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.0%. The Black or African American population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 4.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population (3.0%) is well below the state average of 12.3%.

Education

23.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 33% lower than the state rate of 34.1%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 95.2%.